Phanse is a three-time corporator from Kandivali west and has been the Shiv Sena’s group leader in the BMC for the past year. He has also held various other posts, including chairman of the civic improvements committee and health committee of the civic body. The crucial standing committee is responsible for approving all projects of the BMC.

Shewale held the post of the chairman continuously for the past four years.

The election for the post took place on Friday, wherein the 27 corporators in the standing committee were supposed to vote to elect a chairman. Of the 27 members, three MNS corporators, Samajwadi Party corporator Rais Shaikh and Congress corporator Dyanraj Nikam were absent. The election took place in the presence of Mayor Sunil Prabhu, Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh and other party leaders.

He will hold the chairmanship of the panel for a year.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena corporator from Wadala, Trishna Vishwasrao, has taken charge as the leader of the House in the BMC. Vishwasrao is the first woman corporator to take up the post. A four-time corporator, she has been a member of the civic standing committee for the past two years.

The crucial improvements committee, has mostly been headed by BJP corporators, too is set to get a new chairman. The Shiv Sena-BJP combine has nominated Jogeshwari corporator Ujjwala Modak for the post of chairperson. If elected, Modak will be the first woman chairperson of the committee in more than 30 years. The committee decides land-related matters.